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In Memoriam: Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov (+2018)

On, May 25, 2018, the leave-taking of the feast of the Ascension of our Lord, senior-most cleric of the Russian Church Abroad, Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov, reposed in the Lord. Fr. Valery’s clerical service spanned 55 years.  In the course of his service to the church, Fr. Valery designed and oversaw the construction of the magnificent St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ of which he served as rector for many years.

Memory eternal to the ever-memorable Protopresbyter Valery! Christ is Risen!

Valery Simeon Lukianov was born on December 21, 1927 in the city of Shanghai (Republic of China) into the family of Simeon Mhailovich Lukianov and his lawful wife Zoya Stepanovna, née Suhanova.

He completed the full curriculum at the classical gymnasium, receiving his Certificate of Maturity on June 30, 1945.

As a result of the wartime situation in China, was evacuated on January 19, 1949 to a refugee camp on the island of Tubabao (Philippines). Arrived in the United States on September 23, 1950. In 1951, was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served for two years in the Corps of Engineers.

Completed full Civil Engineering curriculum with honors at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. On June 15, 1955, graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering Cum Laude.

As a civil engineer, worked in the construction industry until 1968. Holds professional consulting engineer license in the states of New York and New Jersey.

Completed full curriculum of theological studies at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, New York, graduating on December 31, 1975, with a Bachelor of Theology.

On June 13, 1954, married Irene Petrovna Motcharsky, daughter of Archpriest Peter and Raisa Vasilyevna Motcharsky. They have five sons: Alexis, Serge, Nicholas, John, and Alexander.

On July 23, 1955, named chairman of the Diocesan Central Administration of the St. Vladimir Youth Circles, and from that time until the 1960s maintained a most active participation in that organization. 

On March 22, 1959, the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, tonsured a reader in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York, by His Grace Averky, Bishop of Syracuse & Holy Trinity.

On July 5, 1959, on the Sunday of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Russian Land, ordained subdeacon at St. Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff, New York, by His Grace Averky, Bishop of Syracuse & Holy Trinity.

On February 21, 1963, the feast day of the Holy Great-Martyr Theodore Stratelates and the Holy Prophet Zachariah the Sickle-Seer, ordained to the rank of deacon at the Synodal Cathedral Church of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh in New York City by His Eminence John, Archbishop of Brussels & Western Europe, future Archbishop of San Francisco.

By a resolution of the Council of Bishops, as of June 1, 1964, appointed vice chairman of the Synodal Arts & Architecture Commission.

On January 15, 1967, the feast of Venerable Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov, ordained to the rank of presbyter at St. Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff, New York, by His Eminence Philaret, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

On November 26, 1967, awarded the right to wear the nabedrennik by His Eminence, Metropolitan Philaret.

On November 1, 1968, assigned rector of St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Lakewood, New Jersey.

On June 8, 1969, awarded the right to wear the purple skufia by His Eminence Nikon, Archbishop of Washington & Florida.

On April 26, 1970, for his labors in constructing the rectory at St. Alexander Nevsky parish in Lakewood, awarded the right to wear the kamilavka by His Eminence, Archbishop Nikon.

On September 26, 1971, by resolution of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, awarded the gold pectoral cross, in advance of the usual award timeline, for his zealous and fruitful labors in improving the parish.

On October 6, 1974, in accordance with the resolution of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, elevated to the rank of archpriest.

On October 15, 1974, by directive of His Eminence Nikon, Archbishop of Washington & Florida, appointed dean of the third deanery of the Diocese of Eastern America & New York.

On September 18, 1977, for his labors in constructing a parish hall at St. Alexander Nevsky parish in Lakewood, New Jersey, awarded the right to wear the palitsa by Metropolitan Philaret.

On December 17, 1978, awarded the jeweled pectoral cross by His Eminence, Metropolitan Philaret, in advance of the usual award timeline.

On January 24, 1986, by resolution of the Council of Bishops, appointed acting Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem for a term of one year.

On September 12, 1988, in accordance with the resolution of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, awarded the right to wear the mitre.

By resolution of the Council of Bishops, as of May 15, 1997, appointed chairman of the Synodal Arts & Architecture Commission.

On October 18, 1997, for his labors in constructing the new St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Lakewood, elevated to the rank of protopresbyter.

On September 1, 2009, by resolution of the Council of Bishops, awarded the right to wear the second pectoral cross.

On May 8, 2011, in recognition of his longtime pastoral labors, and in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of St. Alexander Nevsky parish in Lakewood, awarded the Synodal Order of the Sign of the Russian Church Abroad, 2nd Degree.

On March 3, 2013, in recognition of his zealous and longtime pastoral labors, and in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of his ordination to holy orders, awarded the Synodal Order of the Sign of the Russian Church Abroad, 1st Degree.

On January 15, 2017, in recognition of his zealous pastoral, educational, and church-building labors, and in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, awarded the Order of St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco, 1st Degree.

Fr. Valery is survived by his wife, Irene Lukianov; sons, Alexis Lukianov and his wife, Katherine, Fr. Serge Lukianov and his wife, Lubov, Fr. Nicholas Lukianov and his wife, Anna, John Lukianov and his wife, Nina, and Alexander Lukianov and his wife, Mary; sister, Tamara Ivanoff; sixteen grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. 

Benedictory Awards

On September 9, 1973, for his labors in constructing a school building at St. Alexander Nevsky parish in Lakewood, New Jersey, awarded a Benedictory Certificate (Gramota) by the President of the Synod of Bishops.

On June 1, 1986, for his zealous labors on behalf of St. Alexander Nevsky parish and the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, awarded a Benedictory Certificate (Gramota) by the Synod of Bishops.

On January 26, 1988, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the holy orders, awarded a Benedictory Certificate (Gramota) by the Synod of Bishops.

On February 4, 2008, in recognition of his 40th anniversary as rector of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Lakewood, awarded a Benedictory Certificate (Gramota) by the President of the Synod of Bishops.

Spiritual & Literary Works

Since 1954, Fr. Valery has been published in the ecclesiastical periodical Pravoslavnaya Rus’ (“Orthodox Rus”), printed by the Brotherhood of St. Job of Pochaev in Jordanville, New York, as well as in other Orthodox publications.

Books Authored in Russian:

  1. Источникъ Воды Живой (Istochnik Vody Zhivoy) Fountain of Living Water – A Pilgrim’s Notes (1980)
  2. Душе моявозстани (Dushe moya, vozstani) My Soul, Arise – A Collection of Spiritual Essays (1993)
  3. Радость о Господѣ (Radost’ o Gospode) Joy in the Lord – A Collection of Spiritual Essays (2000)
  4. Богослужебныя замѣтки (Bogosluzhebniya zametki) Church Service Notes – A Practical Guide to Church Services (2001, 2006)
  5. Свѣтильникъ Благодати (Svetilnik Blagodati) Lantern of Grace – Seven Essays in Memory of St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco (1999, 2010)

Books Translated into English:

  1. Lantern of Grace – Our Father Among the Saints John, Archbishop of Shanghai & San Francisco – A Remembrance (2004, 2017)
  2. Blessed Pastorship – The Challenges of Pastoral Service (2016)
  3. My Soul, Arise – Spiritual, Biographical & Historical Essays (to be published in 2018)

In Memoriam: Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov (+2018) - 05/25/20

(24 images)


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